Conveying apparatus



July 3, 1945*. C, GERLACH 2,379,571

CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed March 22, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet l.

INVENTOR July 3, 1945. c. L. GE'RLACH CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed March 22, 1943 6 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEY July 3, 1945.v c, l. GERLACH l i 2,379,571

CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed March 22.. 194s e sheets-sheet s.

` BY Y HTTONT'Y.

July 3, 1945, l.. GERLACH 2,379,571

I CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed March 22, 194s s sheets-sheet 4 JNVENToR. cfm/P455 A erf/m46# July 3, 1945.

c. L. GERLACH CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed March 22, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

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Patented July 3, 1945 l CONVEYING APPARATUS CharlesL. Gerlach, iwaukesha, Wis., assignor to 4 Michael Yundt Company, Waukesha, Wis., a M

Acorporation of Wisconsin Y A Application March ,22, 1943, serial. No. 480,000

aolaims'.' (c1. 19e-41o) This invention relates to. .an apparatus ,for

filling:v 'and closing portable receptacles suchl asr milk Bottles` or the like.

Anxobject of the invention istoprovide a machine ofthis` characterwhich may be readily combined or operatively associated 'witha milk bottlewasher of the typezwhich discharges .a row of clean bottles from bottle-holders at itsdischarge; end; the apparatus; embodying; rthe present irivexcitionv takingV over the coni-,rolof the 'bottles as they lare-'discharged as itis synchronized in its action with the discharge cycles of the Washing.

machine.

Another object of the inventionis to provide an apparatus of this character which feeds sucat which. station `they are again elevated'and.

capped. Aftercapping, the bottles are lowered and iinally are transferred to an off-take conveyor. 1

A further object ofthe invention is to provide an apparatus of this character having these advantages yand which is vadapted for use in iilling pint, quart, rhalf-gallon, or other sizey bottles,

with any size.

A still further object of the invention is rto provide an apparatus for filling. andv closing portable receptacles having the advantages and# ca- -the mechanism being adjustable foreflective use pac-ities mentioned, and' which hasfpositive-and precision control over the bottle movements so that the bottles Will be'correc'tly and properly, f positioned with respect to the viilling vand capping means: to insure eiiicient cooperation therewith and consequently eiective. delivery oi the milk or other liquid in proper quantities to the bottles without spilling and thereafter effective, capping cr closing of the bottles. f

Anapparatus embodying` thefpresent invention comprises generally a plurality' of parallel,

longitudinal guides or ways on which the bottoms of the bottles are supported and along. which they.

slide.A These guidesor ways are divided transversely'to provide two sections; one. a receiving section on to which the bottles are transferred by suitable transfer mechanism: fromr theloottle Washer and the. other a 'lling and capping section' serving not. only :to Yguide-lout also to elevate the bottles into cooperative. .relation ,Wi-thf the filling andcapping means. yInterposed `between the adjacent,l parallel waysA `are bottle'efeedcarriages or pushers which have upstandingbottleengagingv elements,'preferably pins. The feed carriages. are reciprocated backand forth, and-when moving in one direction serve to advance orieed the: bottles through the apparatus. and when moving in the opposite direction simply= idle or return. During feedingv movement-of the carriages ,both sectionsl of the waysare lowered so` as tot'bring the lower portions of the bottles into the range ofiaction of the bottlefeeding elements or pins. On the. return movement ci the feedcarriages the .tracks-` o1'l ways are-elevatedV so that -thebot toms of'the bottles are above thev tops ofthe bottleeedpins.y y

Meansis: provided for reciprocating. the bottlefeedcarriages-for ybottle pushers timed relation tothe other movementaandfmeans is also provided forraising'fand loweringfthe receiving and filling sections@ of the guides -or waysand is so constituted-that 'a 'variable f. degree of elevation mayv be imparted `to the sections which make up the guidesorways ofy the lling section to adapt the apparatus for -use inv llingdifferent size bottlesffor example pnt` quart, half-gallon, or other sizefbottles. "Obviously, with the lling and capping stations 'in Xed position, it :is-necessary to elevate the smaller-'size bottle. through a greater distancethan the larger size bottles; The means which Areciprocates the yhottlelfeed carriages or pushers also includes a'variable stroke device of the like so' that' the feeding'movement may be varied -to'prcperly feed 'bottles of different sizes. l

othery objects and advantages reside in caninl novelr features of the (mnstruction,V arrangement, andcombination offpartawhich will be hereinafter" more fullyde'scribed: and 'a'particul'arly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being hadlto the accompanying drawings forming a part of this speciiication, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a vportion `of an apparatus embodying theipresentinvention; v

f Figure 2is asimilar view of the remaining por'- tion ofthepparatus; y 'e of the opposite side of the machine from that` cally illustrated as it per se forms no part of the present invention. An appropriate transfer M includes bottle tilters T which receive the bottles from the holders H and move them from a substantially horizontal position .to a vertical position. Pusher P transfers the bottles-from the holders I-I to the tilters T and pusher P transfers the bottles from the tilters T to the apparatus A embodying the present invention.

The apparatus A embodying the present invention comprises a main or stationary frame, desshown in Figure 2 and showing the operating mechanism employed for reciprocatingl the feed carriages; Y v

Figure '7 isa view partly in side elevation'and the reciprocating cross bars which move the feed carriages back and forth;

Figures 8 and 9 are views in transverse cross sections takenonline's 8-8 and 9--9 of Figure 7 Figure 10 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partlyV in vertical, longitudinal cross section showing how motion is imparted from the operating shaft to one'of the actuating cross bars of the feed carriages l Figure 11 is' a, fragmentary detail in vertical cross section taken on line lI-II of Figure' 10;

Figure l2 is a detail view partly-in elevation and partly in transverse, vertical cross section, illustrating the mechanismfor adjusting the stroke of the feed carriagesj L Y Figure 13 isv a 'detail view partly'in end 'elevation and' partly in vertical, transverse cross section, showing the manner in which'the'feed' carriages and the sections of the tracks or ways are supported for their respective movements;

Figure 14 is detail view partly in side elevation and partlyin vertical cross'section,'showing the 'motion transmission/means employed between one of the operating shafts and one of the "raising or lowering barsfor the tracks or ways;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary detail view in horizcntalcross section showing howthe raising and lowering bars for the tracks or ways are-supported for the up and down orvertical movement.'

Referring to the drawings, and more particularing to vFigures land 2, it will be seenthat the apparatus for filling and capping milk bottles, or other receptacles, Aembodying the present invention, is designatedgenerally at A and'is opera'- `tively interrelated with the discharge end of a milk Abottle washer, av portion fof .whichr is diagrammatically'illustrated and designated as a `whole at W. The washer W may be of any suitable or standard'construction, a number of which are commercially available. Such washers usually have means for soaking the bottles, scrubbing their insidesandoutsides, rinsing the'sarne thor- .oughly, and-delivering successive rowsof bottles suitable transfer mechanism, designated at M. This transfer mechanism is"V only diagrammati- .members 2.

ignated as a whole at l. This frame may be constructed in-any suitable way and comprises vertically disposed and suitably cross connected side Only one cross member 3 is illustrated, but, of course, a suitable number are provided. Adjacent the top of the frame are longitudinally extending and parallel guides or ways for the bottles, these tracks or ways being designated generally at 5. Approximately midway of the machine these tracks or ways are -transversely divided or separated so as to provide a receiving and inspection section R on to which the bottles are deposited by the transfer mechanism M and an elevating or filling section F, which is designed rst to raise the bottles into cooperation withthe liller valves 'l of a bottle filler, designated generally at8, and thereafter to raise the bottles into cooperative relation with a bottle capper, designated generally at 9. The guides or ways l5 are all of identical construction, and their action is the same save that the guides or Ways of the elevating section F are raised and lowered through a greater vertical distance than the guides or Ways 5 of the receiving section R.

All of the guides or ways are constituted to provide a slotted track made up of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced track members'l5. Longitudinally extending and vertically disposed partitions or dividers I6 are provided along the outer edges of the guides or ways. n

The structural details of the guidesA or ways may be varied. 'l

In the drawings, one practical manner of constituting'them is illustrated. As shown in the drawings, all of the members which make up the guides or ways, save the two outer ones 'which extend along the sides of the frame, are of double construction and form a part of two guides or ways. All of the intermediate guideor wayforming members, that is, all except for the two outer ones mentioned, are constituted first of an inverted channel Il fitted down over a pair of longitudinally spaced and vertically extending brackets I8. The bases of the brackets I8 rest on and are secured to cross bars I 9a, |919, |90, and

ld. The cross bars |9a, I9b, |90, and 19d extend transversely of the frame and are supported thereon for reciprocating movement in a vertical plane. Superposed on each channel I1 is a sheet metal stamping 20 which is rst doubled on itself 'and then formed into a box-like structure dein turn resting on and being fastened to the cross bars lila, |912, ISC, and I9d. A sheet metal stamping 25 is mounted on each channel 22 and is very much in design like thestampings except that it is of single construction sinfceit serves topro- |917', |90, and` |9d for vertical sliding movement f,

on- 1 the frame 'members mayY be constituted by forming the ends. lof the `crossjbars of `circular crosssectionfthereby providing` axles or. trunnions These trunni'ons 3|I-extend through the slide blocks` 3| which are intertted with vertical guides or ways 32 fastened to the main frame members and parallel-ing the side edges of vertical' 'slots 32' provided in the yframe members. Collars 33, xedl'y secured on the ends of the trunnions 3o by means of' set screwsor in any other suitable way, to'engagey the slid@ blocks 3|,

retain' the partsv assembled. y I

A horizontally reciprocable feed carriage ,or bottle pusher 35 is provided foreach guide or way and is disposed in vertical alinementwith the slot thereof. Each pusher 35 ycomprises a rail-like body portion 36 (seev Figures 7', 8. and 9); Adjacent its ends the rail-like body portion 3G is attached to and supported on vertical'brackets 31 which in turn are suitably fastenedl to bars `38 and 39. i

These cross barsr38 and 39 extend transversely of the frame and are supported on the frame, for horizontal reciproca-tory motion.

For this purpos'ejthe ends of thecross bars 38 and 39 may beA provided with trunnions or axlelike portions 40; Flanged Wheels or rollers 4| are rotatably mounted on the trunnions- 40 and ride'on horizontal tracks or rails 42 secured to the side members of the frame.

A feed plate 43 rests on the top of each. pusher body rail 36. l

Means is provided for interconnecting each feed plate with its rail so `that as the pusher body rail 36 is reciprocated a corresponding movement will be imparted to the feed plate 43. One structure which is practical for this purpose, may comprise one or more attaching plates 44 -Xwhich may be welded to the underside of the feed plate 43, and which has a vertical notch 45 fitted over a laterthe cross ally projecting pin 46 fixed to the rai-l on which the feed plate is mounted.

Bottle feed pins 41 are carried bythe feed plates 43, the lower ends*v of the pins being fastened to their feed plate 43-and thepins themselves projecting upwardly or vertically from the feed plates. .The bottle feed pins 41 are spaced to accommodate. .the particular `site bottle which is being handled by the machine, `anditis for this purpose that the pins. are carried by removable feedy plates so .that a. set of pins, properly spaced imay be employed vfor different size bottles.

The vertical motion imparted to the ways, 5,

Y and the horizontal motion imparted tothe feed carriages or pushers' 35, .are synclnonizedA I`with each other and with the action ,of the bottle washer. For this purpose the Washer may be provided with a shaft 50 synchronized in its drive with that of the endless conveyor which Vadvances the bottle holders with astep-by-step motion.

Chain and sprocket gearing 5| transmits motion from the shaft 58 to a ldrive shaft' 52 for the apparatus A. This drive shaft 52 extendsflongn' tudnally under the apparatus A'and is 'operatively connected by chain 4andsproc'ket gearing 52' to worm gearing 53`which`drives a cross shaft54.

Thexcross shaft54 isdemployed totrotate'or i actuatel suitable cams which act` through; links andlevers, or other suitable motion transmission mechanisnl,y to raise and lower the guides or ways 5'and'toreciprocate the horizontal pushers 3,5 at.

fixed to a short shaft 62 rotatably supported in s suitable bearings provided therefor on vthe `frame of the machine. A crank or lever arm 62' vis fixed to the shaft 62 and extends upwardly therefrom along one side of the cam 60. The upper end of the crank or lever arm 62 is pivotally connected to oneiend ofthe connecting rod-or link 63. The opposite end of the link63 is adjustablt7 and Divotally interconnected with a crank arm164 fixed to one end of a cross shaft G5 supported suitable bearing-s onthe frame of the machine. The crank arm |54 has alongitudinal slot therein. -A traveling block is slidably fitted in ,this slot-and has trunnions 66 which pivotally interconnect with the yoke formation at the adjacent endpf the, connecting rod 63. Centrally the traveling block is provided with an internally threaded opening operatively engaged with an adjusting the shaft G5 thereby increasing or. decreasing; the

effective length of the crank arm 64 ,andv consequently varying the angular distance throughwhich the cross shaft 65 is rocked bythe cam 60. Rocking motion of this cross 'shaft 651s vutilized toraise-'and lower'the ways 5 of the fill-ing'section'F'-, For this purpose the cross shaft 65 is provided with crank arms 10 fixed thereto-:and

projecting toward the adjacent cross bar-|9c.

The outer ends of these crank arms 'Hl are pivotally .connected tothe lower ends of links '.1|, thel upper ends, of which are p-ivetally connected to cross bar |9c. Obviously, asthe cross shaft 65' isrocked, its motion will be transmitted throughy the ycrank arm 1i), links 1|,.'and-the slides 3|, to thecross bar |9c,- to raise andlower the same. Adjacent the crossr bar |9d a counter shaft 1-5 is rotatably mounted on the frame and isprovidedwith crank arms 16 which project :toward the A.cross bar lad and are operatively interconnected with the. slides 3| thereof by Ameans of links 11 similar to the links 1|. Motion is imparted to the countershaft 15 from the rock shaft 65 through crank arms' 18 and lsfxed to the shafts 65 and l5, respectively, and interconnected with each other by connecting link or connecting rod Bil. The parts are so dimensioned and arranged that shaft 65 and its countershaft 15 partake of corresponding motion and properly vapply the yforce to the cross bars 4andi-19d toraise and lower the ways of the filling section of the machine at the proper time.

The shaft 62 also has a crank Varm 8| Vfixed to its inner end and the upper `end of the crank arm 8| is pivotally connected toA one end lof the long connecting rod 8| which entends longitudinallyof the machine and at its end Opposite the crank arm 8|' is pi-votally connected to ay crank arm BZXed to and projecting downwardly'from a 'cross shaft 83 supported for'rocking or-"osci'llating .movement on the frame of the machine. The shaft 83 is disposed adjacent the cross bar I9b` and has a pair of cranks 84 fixed to spaced portions thereof and projecting under the slides 3| of the cross bar |92) and operatively connected with these slides by means of links 85.` AA countershaft 86 extends crosswise of the machine and is supported for rotation thereon, the shaft 8G being disposed adjacent to the cross bar I9a. Crank arms 81 are fixed on the countershaft 86 and extend toward and under lthe cross bar [9a and they are operatively interconnected with the slide block 3| thereof by means of links 89. The

countershaft 8F is rocked in a manner corresponding to the cross shaft 83 by interconnecting linkage between these shafts which comprise crank arms 90 and 9| mounted on the rock shaft 83 and counter shaft 86, respectively, and interconnected with each other by means of a connecting rod 92. Hence, the cam 60 serves to raise and lower not only the filling section F but also the receiving section. The amplitude of the movement imparted to the filling section F is varied by adjustment of the variable stroke device.

Counterweights 93 are hung from the shafts 65,

115,' 83, and 86 and freely slide vertically along guides 94 and 94' provided therefor on the'frame of the machine. These weights Vcounter-balance the weight of the ways and their supporting structure so that the action is smoother and the operating mechanism' need only lserve to move the Ways and their supports and, of course, the bottles thereon. Y 1

The end of the cross shaft 54 opposite to that 95 xed thereon, the cam 95 acting on the rollers 96 of the cam follower lever 91 which is pivotally mounted on the frame and extends upwardly with respect thereto. The upper end of the cam follower lever 91 is pivotally connected to one end of a connecting link 98, the opposite end of which is adjustably and pivotally interconnected with a crank arm 99 fixed to and projecting upwardly from a rock shaft mounted in suitable bearings provided therefor on the frame of the machine. The crank arm 99 is also longitudinally slotted and a traveling block |0| slides in the slot of the arm and is adjusted thereon by adjusting screw |02 in much the same manner as described in connection with the variable stroke device for the elevating means of the iiller section F. In this instance, however, although the structure functions in the same way as the other variable stroke mechanism. the operating means for facilitating rotation of the adjusting screw is changed kslightly in that its beveled gearing 03 is actuated by hand crank |04. By. varying the extent to which the shaft |00 is rocked` in either direction the amount of the feeding movement and of the return movement, which is transmitted from the rock sahft to the feed carriages or reciprocable pushers, is varied. The purpose of this is to effect the feed of different size bottles.

The shaft |00 is provided with a pair of'crank arms, designated at |06, the crank arms projecting upwardly from the shaft |00 at an angle. The upper ends of the crank arms are pivotally connected to. links |01, and the links in turn are pivotally connected to clevis or attaching brackets |08 which embrace andare bolted, as at |09, to the cross bar 39. With'this construction, as the rock shaft |00 is oscillated its motion will be transmitted to the cross bar 39 through the crankV` |06 and link` |01 so that the cross bar 39 CJi 'on which the cam 60 is mounted has a double cam will be reciprocated back and forth. Since the cross bar 39 is tied to the cross bar 38 through the rails 38 and brackets 31, the cross bar 38 partakes of the corresponding movement.

In a construction such as described, bottles are advanced through the apparatus in row formation and with a step-by-step motion. Their movements are precision-controlled so that they are brought into correct vertical alinement with the filling and capping stations. When in such alinement and in astate of rest, they are elevated to effect filling and capping. Finally they are advancedv from the ways 5 through the apparatus on to and off the oir-take conveyor H5.

While I have shown and described one construction in which the invention may be advantageously embodied, it is to be understood that the construction shown 'has been'selected merely for the purpose of illustration or example, and that various changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

l. An apparatus' of the character described comprising a frame including side members, cross members connecting said side members, a plurality of parallel ways extending longitudinally of the frame adjacent the top thereof, each way being made up of transversely spaced tracks with vertical dividers extending along the outer edges of the tracks, said ways being transversely divided approximately midwayv between their ends, a Separate set of raising and lowering means for each section of the ways, each raising and lowering means comprising a pair of raising and lowering bars extending transversely of the frame and longitudinally spaced from each other, supporting brackets on said bars and engaged with and secured to the undersides of the ways, means coacting with the ends of the bars and with the frame for constraining the bars to raising andlowering movement, a separate operating mechanism for each pair of raising and lowering bars, one of said operating mechanisms including a variable strokedevice adjustable to regulate the extent of vertical motion imparted to its ways, a horizontally disposed reciprocable pusher bar interposed between the tracks of each way, each of said pusher bars having a series of vertically extending bottle-engaging feed pins, and means for imparting a forward feeding motion to each pusher bar when the ways are lowered and for imparting a return movement to each pusher bar when the ways are elevated.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a frame, a plurality of parallel ways extending longitudinally of the frame adjacent the top thereof, each way being constituted of a slotted track and vertical dividers extending along the outer edges of each slotted track, said ways being transversely divided approximately midway between their ends to provide a plurality of sections, a horizontally disposed reciprocable pusher positioned in vertical alinement with the slot of each way, individual operating mechanisms for raising and lowering the way sections, and means for imparting a forward motion to each pusher when the ways are lowered and for imparting a y tioned in vertical alinement with kthe slot of each way, means including a variable stroke mechanism for raising and lowering the ways, and means including a variable stroke ,mechanism for im-A s parting a feeding movement to the pusherswhe'n the ways are elevated and a return movement thereto when the ways are lowered,

4. In a device for conveying different sizes of bottles to a predetermined position, a supporting frame, a way mounted on the frame forreceiving and for guiding movement of the bottles, means for raising and lowering the way, `a carriage for moving the bottles horizontally relative to the way and including a removable plate positively determining the positioning of a given .size of bottle thereon, and means for moving the carriage in one direction when the way is lowered and in the return direction when the way is raised.

5. In a device for conveying different-sizes of bottles to a predetermined position, a supporting frame, a way mounted on the frame for receiving and for guiding movement of the bottles, means for raising and lowering the'way, acarriage for moving the bottles horizontally relative to the way and including a removable plate positively determining the positioning of a given size of bottle thereon, the plate being replaceable by another plate for receiving and positioning a'different size of bottle, and means for moving the carriage in one direction when the way is lowered and in the return direction when the way is raised.

6. In a devicefor conveying different sizes of bottles to a predetermined position, a supporting frame, a way mounted on the frame for receiving and for guiding movement of the bottles, the way being divided transversely into sections and being movable vertically, means for individually moving the way sections to secure different vertical positioning thereof, a vcarriage for moving the bottles horizontally relative to the way when the way is in lowered positioned,l and means for returning the carriage when the .way is raised.

7, In a device for conveying different sizes o f bottles to a predetermined position, a supporting frame, a way mounted on the frame for receiving and for guiding movement of the bottles, adjustable means forraising and lowering the way to secure different vertical positioning thereof and of the bottles thereon, a carriage for moving the bottles horizontally relative to the way when the way is in lowered position, and adjustable means Iand guiding movements ofthe bottles, a carriage for moving the bottles relative to the way, a single driving means for actuating both the way and the carriage, adjustable means connectingv the way with the driving means for raising and lowering the way to different vertical positions, and

adjustable means connecting the carriage with the driving means for moving the carriage horizontally to different positions, movement ofthe i carriage in one direction occurring when the way is lowered and in the other direction whenthe way is raised. f

9. In a device for conveying diierent sizes of bottles to a predetermined position, a supporting frame, a wayfmounted on the frame for receiving the bottles, the way being divided transversely into sections vertically movable, a carriage for moving the bottles relative to the way, a drive means for actuating both the vway and the carriage, adjustable means connecting the way sections `severally with the driving means for raising and lowering the individually sections thereof to different vertical positions, and adjustable means connecting the carriage with the driving means for moving the carriage horizontally to different positions, the carriage moving in one direction when the way is lowered and moving inthe other direction when the way is raised.

. CHARLES L. GERLACH. 

